Is It Too Much: Horror/ Psychological (feedbacks/proofreader/editors/collabs/self-promotion and what-nots)

[graveweaver]

This is a pretty timely topic, I uploaded a chapter to my webtoon last night that was decidedly heavier than the past chapters (Intended, I had been easing into it and I wanted to show the readers the "reality" of the main character's job) and I got quite a few comments of people who were uncomfortable with it. Two people told me they were unsubbing because they couldn't take it, which I found surprising because I thought the situation I had introduced was decidedly mild. There was no gore, only words.

I think the fact was that the situation I had presented was too close to the misfortunes of reality for some people, and made them uncomfortable because then my comic crossed the line from "fun fictional murder romp" to "psychological study on societal pressures." However I got an overwhelmingly positive response as well, that far outweighed the bad. I think people WANT to see these kinds of stories, but a lot of authors are too scared because there are the 2% that get really uncomfortable with it.

My story is not horror, so I'm not going for shock value. I'm personally against shock for the sake of shock, I see it kind of like a jumpscare in a horror game. I want shocking things to have a purpose- In my comic a character describes how another character killed her kid, and it wasn't suppose to be "shocking"- It was meant as a rebuttal to her saying that she killed her kid out of mercy.

However if anyone wants to write like that, they're totally entitled to. Your story isn't there to make your readers comfortable, it's meant to tell a story that YOU want to tell. If that makes your readers uncomfortable, they can go elsewhere. I guess there are times when this is distasteful, if you advertise your series as rated G and then chapter 7 a character's brain explodes and their guts go everywhere that's just straight up lying to an audience haha, but if you're honest about your series then go hog-wild.

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

I am loving your comment! so like i'd like to think mine isn't necessarily shock value. Because It's more of i so saw that coming but i didn't think you'll actually do it!. I can't say more cuz i'll spoil the book but it Does have some aspect that most people are too afraid to address. And then there's always people who ignore warnings (i usually upload a warning chapter first) and still complain. And since i'm new and everything i probably won't have that much positive feedback to out weight negatives thats why i wanna be cautious.

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

i think i scared her for life...( i also introduced her to yaoi lol)

[racarter]

“Messed up” is my favorite kind of horror and psychological stories. Actually they’re my two favorite genres.

My mindset is “you can always take it further”. The only limitations are what the platform / publisher puts on you. It’s one reason I like fanfic so much, I can read tons of stuff that scares me to the core, sickens me to no end, etc without restraint. Sadly in many stories and comics there are just too many restrictions.

Like personally I enjoy sexual horror, the more graphic the better, same with outrageous gore, especially if both happen in the same story. But like here on Tapas we can’t do stuff as extreme as what I like.

So I’m all for taking it as far as possible. Tho I don’t always need sexual content or gore, you can go far in other was. Junji Ito is a master of it, for instance. But I enjoy cheesy shock value stuff.

When it comes to crossing a line I’m like “line? what line??!” And really what upsets people tend to be personal stuff. I enjoy sex and gore but my squick factor is stuff most people might not bat an eye at - but it bothers me deeply. That’s why I avoid most harem stuff, for instance. That said my dream is to create a good horror story one day and I’m sure gonna give your stuff a read!

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

you are perfect! you r me when writing!!! it's like there is so much you could do it it is gore or sexual like making the dad rapes his son but then you think hold up what if the mom knew but did nothing
then ur like WAIT!!!!!! what if the mom made him crossdress to make her accept why her husband would want a boy over her...then you push it further and make the mom break saying something like i wanna know what so special and she joins the he actually has an older bro who he later falls in love with cuz he's kind but the older bro find out about his parents raping and abusing his lil bro the he try to escape with his li bro but fails then the lil bro is fed up so he kills the parents AND the brother saying something like now we (him and his bro) can be happy in heaven together........
i just came up with this on the spot.....
This is SO going to be my next book

[DasIstWunderblyat]

When reading, I'm actually not easily fazed by such content; I meant reality is even darker than fiction. That is if and only if it's appropriate with the plot or setting, and have impact to the story. Otherwise it screams edgelord and attention seeking to me

For me, "dark" is not always violence, rape, and horrible murders with psychopath; I think it's the overrated part of dark. Something dark can be a preventable tragedies, loss of childhood, corrupt system, etc. The earlier part of Attack on Titan is between man-eating monster vs human with all gore and stuff was not dark at all for me. When tge story progressed and reveals it is actually rather human-made tragedy and political stuffs that there's hardly a way out, then it turns darker for me.

I actually prefer a surprise or subtlety rather than story that labels itself as dark at the very beginning; such as when the story take a dark turn, or it is a crap saccharine world that is actually dark if you think about it more

I used to make stories about murder and torture when I was younger. Currently, my own writing is nowhere near dark because I think white chocolate and vanilla is what necessary to the story.

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

i understand where u are coming from in the sense that i wouldn't just throw in some gore and messed up shit just to make it dark i usually connect it or try to at least to a deeper part of the story. for example if you read my latest updates color red and taboo they will later tie up to the main character's story ( can't say more due to spoilers) most times the gore and rape and all that is a trigger for a bigger event. I also respect your preferences but i do love a bit ( or a lot) of gore and "darkness" from time to time Thats why i really enjoy killing stalking.
Just putting it out there one of my series is a mystery, it contains more of the loss of child hood sorta thing (in future chapters it will, now it's still progressing)

Nyx: The Shadow Series | Tapas

It might be more to your taste?

[silverraven0]

Oh, the classic Ito sensei kind of shock horror is the best (thought the anime adaptation is very bad, can't say so about the live action since I haven't watch them).

Btw, have you read the old horror manga The Horror Mansion by Ochazuke Nori Sensei? It's really old but I remember he's the one that influenced Ito Sensei kind of horror. Try to read them if you want to, but I personally really like it.

And speaking about sexual horror (I don't know if ero guro and what you mean is the same one), thought I don't really want to admit it (lmfao), I think Kago Shintaro is one of the best. Most of his work is f*cked up but in the same time, it's brilliant in its own way. Some of my favourite of his work is paranoia street, and a one shot about "whale" and the 3d 4 koma (forgot the titles). The last one is very clever and the whale one is really... sticking in my mind.

Anyway, I'm talking nonsense t this point. XD

[J.Lovelace]

Did somebody say messed up? Well then~~
I'm not sure if that's the kind of "messed up" you meant but have this:

Urban Legend :: Cover | Tapas

Also this:
(it's on hiatus but I'll get back to it eventually)

Constant Thinking :: Cover | Tapas

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

thanks for the recommendations!!! i'll make sure to check them out!

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

it looks interesting! so i subscribed i'll make sure to get to it once i can!

[J.Lovelace]

Thank you!
Take your time

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

no problemo! love the art!

[Jenny-Toons]

Well, I don't have any horror posted just yet, but the stories I am working on will cross that line. Just implicitly.

As some people have mentioned before, the readers' imaginations does them the most terror when they think about what's happening, and I kinda like to feed on that. Course, there will be moments where I give it "yes, this is gonna go down." But teasing out the horror is fun too!

Though, in the end, I always give out a little warning that "this is what's gonna be in this story, and it's not gonna change. It'll be handled pretty well enough, but it's not gonna change. So if this isn't a for you, it might be better to turn around now"

[HoodQuest]

Did someone say stories that are "messed up" and "cross lines"? I think I have one. As for my thoughts on the topic, I think it's up to the reader to know their limits. When it comes to violence and horror, it's hard to know your limit until you've seen that limit. Many times, I fear that I may cross a line that would turn my viewers off. With future chapters, I try to push further and further the line of horror. As a horror writer, you want to make the audience feel the tension, suspense, and anxiety that the characters are going through. So when it comes to horror, "crossing the line" is completely subjective to the writer and/or the reader. This is my horror story that does some things such as crossing lines and being messed up.

The Squealer | Tapas

[Jenny-Toons]

I think it's up to the reader to know their limits. When it comes to violence and horror, it's hard to know your limit until you've seen that limit.

I definitely second this. Sometimes, it's up to you as a reader to know if you should pursue reading a comic or a novel or even watching a movie that has themes in it that can be uncomfortable for you. And it's up to you to decide if you wanna keep reading despite that warning.

If someone gives me a warning that a horror comic has, say, "a large amount of spiders in the context", and I have arachnophobia, I am not going to subject myself to this story. And if I do, it's at my own risk that I get uncomfortable because I've been warned ahead of time.

Just gotta have that balance; creators can at least give a warning a head of time, but readers also have to decide for themselves do they want to ignore that warning or not.

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

thats a refreshing way to think bout it!!!! i'll try to see how that method works for me. i also checked and subscribed to your series i'll try to catch up on it as soon as i can

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

i actually do upload a warning chapter called talk or let's talk. This is to prevent any hate comments or triggered readers

[poppyqueen01]

My story is enough to prove me insane.Idk what I was thinking while I wrote it. At first, it was going to a highschool romance, but as I kept on writing, a very dark outlook overtook it. Nevertheless, I still love it.

Crimson Love(BL)(COMPLETED) | Tapas

[Ashwin_S_D_Byss]

it's BL AND it's dark? sign me the fuck up!